Television
January 15, 2002
A Superhero, A Mother-Daughter Duo And A Divorced Mom All Get Another Season When The WB Announces Early Pick-Ups For “Smallville,” “Gilmore Girls” And “Reba”
(January 15, 2002 – Pasadena, CA) — The WB has committed to another season for three of its hit series by giving early pick-ups to “SMALLVILLE,” “GILMORE GIRLS” and “REBA,” it was announced today by Jordan Levin, President, Entertainment of The WB. The pick-ups will mean a third season for the sophomore “GILMORE GIRLS” and second seasons for freshman breakouts “SMALLVILLE” and “REBA.”
“Our goals for this season were to reinvigorate and freshen Tuesday night and break a comedy, and we’ve accomplished both,” said Mr. Levin. “The combination of ’Gilmore Girls’ and ‘Smallville’ has been a huge success on Tuesdays both creatively and financially, and we are confident that this lineup will continue to grow. In ‘Reba,’ we have the crossover hit comedy we’ve been working toward for six years, and Reba McEntire has proven herself to be a natural television star with impeccable comic timing.”
The lead actors of all three series have won critical and popular acclaim this season, with a People’s Choice Award for Reba McEntire’s work in “REBA,” a Golden Globe nomination for Lauren Graham’s sexy single mom in “GILMORE GIRLS,” and recognition as one of this season’s Breakout Stars from both Entertainment Weekly and People magazines for Tom Welling of “SMALLVILLE.”
In its first season, the multi-generational “GILMORE GIRLS” was honored with a Viewers for Quality Television Award and was named Outstanding New Series by the Television Critics Association. Series star Lauren Graham received a Best Actress nomination from the Screen Actors Guild. “GILMORE GIRLS” has been a tremendous success in its new Tuesday 8:00 p.m. time period. The family drama is The WB's second highest-rated program of the season among women 18-49 (3.3/8) and females 12-34 (4.6/13). Based on total viewers, “GILMORE GIRLS” is now the fastest growing series on television (up +60%).
Freshman drama “SMALLVILLE” is a new interpretation of the Superman mythology and features Tom Welling as a teenage Clark Kent struggling to understand and control his amazing powers. “SMALLVILLE” is The WB's highest-rated program this season among adults 18-34 (3.5/9), men 18-34 (3.6/10), men 18-49 (2.8/7), males 12-34 (3.6/11) and male teens (3.7/13). It has improved the Tuesday 9:00 p.m. time period dramatically over the same time period a year ago, building +42% in rating among adults 18-34 and +35 in rating among adults 18-49 year-to-year.
The half-hour comedy “REBA” features country superstar Reba McEntire in her series debut as a newly single Texas homemaker coping with a family that just keeps growing despite its slightly dysfunctional bent. “REBA” has brought significant gains to the Friday 9:00 p.m. time slot on The WB, gaining +25% in rating in adults 18-34 versus the same period last year and improving +45% among adults 18-49. “REBA” ranks among the top 20 shows on network television among female teens (3.8/12), and is The WB's highest-rated comedy among adults 18-34, adults 18-49, women 18-34, women 18-49, persons 12-34, females 12-34 and teens 12-17.
“GILMORE GIRLS,” which airs on Tuesdays, 8:00–9:00 p.m. ET, was created by Amy Sherman-Palladino who serves as executive producer with Gavin Polone for Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Hofflund/Polone in association with Warner Bros. Television.
“REBA,” which airs Fridays, 9:00-9:30 p.m., ET, was created by Allison M. Gibson, who serves as executive producer with Mindy Schultheis and Michael Hanel for Twentieth Century Fox Television.
“SMALLVILLE,” which airs Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00 p.m., ET was written and developed by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar, based on the DC Comics characters. Gough and Millar serve as executive producers, along with Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins and Joe Davola. The series is produced by Warner Bros. Television and Tollin/Robbins Productions. SUPERMAN was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster. # # #